2. The Meaning of Sanctification - Enter His Rest
2. The Meaning of Sanctification - Enter His Rest
2. The Meaning of Sanctification - Enter His Rest
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itemized form the solemn covenant that constituted his consecration to God. He writes: A<br />
covenant is an agreement <strong>of</strong> two parties in which both voluntarily bind themselves to<br />
fulfill certain conditions and receive certain benefits. God is the party <strong>of</strong> the first part <strong>of</strong><br />
the contract, and has bound himself.<br />
1. ”I will put my laws into their minds and write them in their hearts.”<br />
<strong>2.</strong> ”And I will be their God.”<br />
3. <strong>The</strong>y “shall know me from the least to the greatest.”<br />
4. ”I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.”<br />
5. ”<strong>The</strong>ir sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Oh, thou Most<br />
High God, thou hast left this covenant in thy Holy Book, saying, “If any man will take<br />
hold <strong>of</strong> my covenant.”<br />
Now, therefore, in holy fear and reverence I present myself as the party <strong>of</strong> the second part<br />
and subscribe my name to the holy article <strong>of</strong> agreement, and following thy example will<br />
here and now write down the conditions on my part.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>y shall be my people” (Jer. 31:33).<br />
Amen, Lord, I am thine forever.<br />
<strong>The</strong> vow is passed beyond repeal;<br />
Now will I set the solemn seal.<br />
Lord, thou hast been true to thy covenant, though I have been most unfaithful and am now<br />
altogether unworthy to take hold <strong>of</strong> thy most gracious covenant. But knowing that thou<br />
hast bound thyself in thy own free <strong>of</strong>fer to “be merciful to their unrighteousness,” I take<br />
courage to approach thee and would most earnestly beseech thee to fulfill thy wonderful<br />
<strong>of</strong>fer to BE MY GOD; and I do most joyfully yield myself entirely TO BE THINE.<br />
<strong>The</strong>refore this soul which thou hast made in thine own image is placed wholly in thy<br />
hands to do with as seemeth good.<br />
This mind shall think only for thy glory and the promotion <strong>of</strong> thy cause.<br />
This will is thy will, O God!<br />
<strong>The</strong> spirit within this body is now thine; do with it as thou wilt, in life and death.<br />
This body is thy temple forevermore.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se hands shall work only for thee.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se eyes to see thy adorable works and thy holy law.<br />
This tongue and these lips to speak only holiness unto the Lord.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se ears to hear thy voice alone.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se feet to walk only in thy ways.<br />
And all my being is now and forever thine.<br />
In signing my name to this solemn covenant I am aware that I bind myself to live, act,<br />
speak, think, move, sit, stand up, lie down, eat, drink, hear, see, feel, and whatsoever I do<br />
all the days and nights <strong>of</strong> my life to do all continually and exclusively to the glory <strong>of</strong> God.<br />
I must henceforth wear nothing but what honors God. I must have nothing in my<br />
possession or under my control but such as I can consistently write upon, “Holiness unto<br />
the Lord.” <strong>The</strong> place where I live must be wholly dedicated to God. Every item <strong>of</strong> goods<br />
or property that is under my control is hereby conveyed fully over into the hands <strong>of</strong> God<br />
to be used by him as he will and to be taken from my stewardship whenever the great<br />
Owner wishes, and it is not my business at all.<br />
She whom I call my wife belongs forevermore to God. Use her as thou wilt and where<br />
thou wilt, and leave her with me, or take her from me, just as seemeth good to thee and to<br />
thy glory. Amen.